Plastic extrusion molding machine



Aug. 18, 1942. J. A. MULLER ETAL PLASTIC EXTRUSION MOLDING MACHINE Filed May 14,, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 kwww mWN

mm vb mm 0% s a." TEM M N L U O EMT T V m n 4 N 3 NM# A HM. Y a w m mw Aug. 18, 1-942. J.-A. MULLER ETAL PLASTIC EXTRUSION MOLDING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 MNN QNN -/A/VNTO/? JOHAN A. MULLER WAPREN R. TUCKER A T TORNE Y8 g- 18, 1942- J. A. MULLER EIAL Z,2 93,304

PLASTIC EXTRUSION MOL DING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1535' 5 Sheets-Sheet s JoHAN A. MULL ER WARREN /P. TUCKER 1942- J. A. MULLER ETAL 2,293,304

PLASTICEXTRUSION MOLDING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 M/VE/v 10R l/OHAN A. MULLER WARREN/E Tqc/rER BY A T TORNEYS Patented Aug. 18, 1942 PLASTIC EXTRUSION MOLDING MACHINE Johan A. Muller, Mansfield, and Warren E. Tuck er, Mount Gilead, Ohio, assignors to The Hydraulic Press Corp. Inc., Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application May 14, 1937, SerialNo. 142,674

6 Claims. (Cl. 18-30)- This invention relates to presses, and in par-' ticular, to .plastic extrusionmolding presses.

One object of thisinvention is to provide a press which is convertible at willinto either a I plastic extrusion molding press or into a compression press.

Another object is toprovide a plastic extrusion molding press, wherein the injector is applied at the parting line of the dies.

Another object is to provide a plastic extrusion molding press, whereina plurality of injectors is employed and applied at the parting line of the dies and on the sides thereof, thereby freeing the injector from the clamping pressure.

Another object is to provide a plastic extrusion 7, but showing a double injecting unit instead of a single one. 7

Figure 9 is an enlarged view showing the in- "terconn'ection of the two injector assemblies of Figure 8. I

Figure 10 is a horizontal section along the line Ill-J of' Figure 1', showing the relationship of the injectors to the lower die half.

Figure 11 is an enlarged vertical section of molding press, wherein the injectorcr injectors are movable into and out of engagement with the closed dies at their parting lines, thereby en abling the injector or injectors to be withdrawn from the vicinity of the dies. Another object is to provide a plastic extrusion molding press, wherein the molding material is injected at a plurality of points in the die ordies, thereby enabling the successful molding of larger pieces or pieces of different color simultaneously.

Another object is to provide a plastic extrusion molding press having a die-clamping plunger for closing and clamping the die halves, aninjec'tor being provided which engages the side of the die i and is equipped with adapters to adapt the injector and its positioning means to difierent shapes and sizes of dies. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation, partly in section, showing the machine as a whole.

with the die-clamping plunger, the feeding and injecting assemblies and the hydraulic circuits after actuation.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section through one of the feeding and injector assemblies shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged central vertical section through the die-clamping plunger and its associated elements.

Figure 4 is an enlarged elevation, partly in and the a portion of Figure .2, showing the adapter devices between theinjector plunger and the injector piston rod, with an adapter spacer inserted therein.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure with the adapter spacer removed.

General construction In general,v the plastic extrusion molding ma- 11, but

chine or pressof. this invention consists of a 'pairot die halves adapted to be closed by a hydraulic plunger. These die halves, in cooperation, form va cavity connected by'means of passageways 'to points on the parting line of the dies, where injectors are arranged to engage the dies. These injectors are mounted with their. axes perpendicular to the axis of the dieclamping plunger, and are mounted upon slides with mechanism whereby they may be advanced or retracted fromengagementwith the dies. Suitable hydraulicplungersare'provided for accomplishing this-advancing orretractin'g motion of the injectors. Associated' with-the injectors is-feedingimechanism for positively feeding the molding materialto' the injector. These .varlous assemblie .-are operated by-hydraulic pistons controlled 1 by -valves'in 'a hydraulic circuit, shown in' Figure 1.

- Clamping plunger and press construction Referring to the drawings in detail, vFigur 1 shows diagrammatically a press or molding machine with a pair of cooperating die halves l0 and l I having cavities l2 correspond to projections l3, and communicating in their closed positions with inlets H for the nozzles of the injectors, as hereinafter described. The upper die half It is mounted upon a platen l5, which is. guided for vertical reciprocation in frame guide members l6. Secured to the platen I5 is a main clamping plunger ll, operating in a main cylinder l8. Above the main cylinder I8 is a surge tank l9, containing a surge check valve 20. The surge tank 19 is connected by a vertical conduit to an auxiliary tank 22 for supplying fluid to every portion of the circuit. The

hydraulic circuit is subsequently described in more detail.

The main cylinder I8 (Figure 3) contains a cylinder bore 23 for reciprocably receiving the main plunger H, a packing 24 and gland 25 being provided to prevent leakage therearound. The main plunger I1 is provided with a hollow central bore 26, having a head 21 closing the end thereof. Mounted within the bore 26 is a booster plunger 28, having a central passageway 29 therethrough. The booster plunger 28 is also.

provided with a piston head 36 and drilled passages 3| and 32 opening into the space on opposite sides of the head 36 within the cylinder bore 33 for receiving the head 36. Surrounding the main plunger I1 and closing the top of the cylinder bore 33 is an annular member 34. The booster plunger 28 is secured within the bore 35 of the head of the main cylinder I8 by means of the nut 38 threaded, as at 31, on the upper end of the booster plunger I1.

The surge check valve 26 is of a type known to those skilled in the art, and described and claimed in the patent to Ernst, No. 1,892,568, December 2'1, 1932, and its details form no part of the present invention. This valve 26 is provided for prefllling and emptying the upper chamber 38 of the main cylinder I8 in a manner more rapid than would otherwise be obtained. In brief, the surge check valve 26 consists of a movable valve member 39 urged upwardly by a spring 46 and engaging a fluted member 4 I, which in turn, engages a plunger 42 having a head 43 on the upper end thereof. A coil spring 44 surrounds the plunger 42 and urges it in an upward direction. A connection 45 with the casing 46 of the surge check valve 26 enables pressure fluid to be admitted to urge the plunger 42 downward to forcibly open the valve member 39 when pressure fluid isadmitted to retract the main plunger. The valve member 39 is mounted in a cage 41, whereas the casing 46 is supported upon a fixture 48 having apertures 49 through which fluid may flow downwardly, past the fluted member 4| and valve member 39, through apertures 56, into the upper chamber 38 of the main cylinder I8.

Feeding and iniector units The feeding and injector units are arranged with their axes perpendicular to the direction of motion of the main plunger I1 (Figure 1), hence, the machine may be arranged either horizontally or vertically. For purposes of disclosure, a vertical machine is shown. The lower die member I6 is mounted upon a bed plate 5|, supported by the bed 52 of the press. In this fixed position the die member I6 is aligned with the feeding and injector units, generally designated 53. Each feeding and injector unit consists of an injector, generally designated 54, and a feeding device, generally designated 55. Each feeding and injector unit 53 (Figure 2) is mounted upon a slide 56, which engages a guide plate 51 bolted, as at 58, to the plate 59, mounted upon the base 66. The injector 54 consists of a central cylinder 6| having radiating fins 62 engaging an outer casing 63 so as to form a chamber therebetween for the circulation of a heating agent,

such as heated oil. This oil enters by a passageway 64 in an insulating wall 65, and leaves by a similar passageway 88 (Figure 2) The injector cylinder 6| contains a bore 61 with an enlargement 88 containing a spindle-shaped deflector 69, having passages 16 for the passage of the plastic material.

Beyond the enlargement 88 and the deflector 68 is a nozzle 1I having an orifice I2 in a rounded tip 13. The injector cylinder 8| is spaced by means of an insulation disc 14 from a flanged portion 15 of the feed casing 18. The latter is surrounded by a cylindrical wall 11, thereby providing a chamber 18, subdivided by annular fins 19 and having ports 88 and 8I for the admission and discharge of a cooling fluid. The purpose of this cooling fluid is to prevent the premature softening of the molding material before it reaches the inJector chamber 61, thereby preventing the clogging of the feeding mechanism.

Within the feed casing is a sleeve 82 having an aperture 83 communicating with an inclined feed bore 84, with a rotary feed screw 85 therein. A conical throat 86 admits molding material, in the form of small particles, to the feed bore 84 from the feed hopper 81, supported in the holder 88 (Figure 2). The feed screw 85 is connected to a shaft 89 mounted on anti-friction bearings 96, held in place by the retaining plate 9|. The shaft 89 is connected by ;.the pin 92 to the coupling 93 on the output shaft 94 of the geared motor unit, generally designated 95. The latter consists of a motor 96 connected to a reduction gear box 91, by which the speed of the motor is reduced to the slow speed necessary for operating the feed screw 85. The geared motor unit is mounted upon a support 98, with a post 99 secured to the slide 56 by thebolts I66.

The support 98 is provided with an angled portion I6I, to which the piston rod I62 is secured by means of the nuts I63 threaded thereon. Similarly, the feed casing 18 has a downwardly extending post I64, bolted as at I65, to the slide 56 and connected to the piston rod I68 by the nuts I61 threaded on the end thereof. The piston rods I62 and I66 terminate in piston heads I68 and I69, respectively, reciprocable in cylinder bores H6 and III. At their opposite ends these cylinder bores are provided with pas-" sages II 2 and H3, also I I4 and H5, respectively, (Figure 2). Surrounding the piston rods I62 and I66 are the closure plates II6, having packings |I1 compressed by glands 8 for the prevention of leakage. The closure plates II6 are bolted, as at II9, to the cylinder blocks I26 containing the cylinder bores H6 and III. The cylinder block I26 also contains an injector cylinder bore' MI, with a piston head I22 mounted on apiston rod I23, the opposite end of which is provided with a threaded bore I24. I

The piston rod I23 is connected to the injector plunger I25 by a coupling, generally designated I26. This coupling is arranged to permit the distance between the injector plunger I25 and the piston rod I23 to be lengthened or shortened, according to the size of the dies I6 and II. For this purpose an adapter screw I21 (Figures 11 and 12) is threaded into the threaded bore I24, and is provided with a head I28 with a T-slot I29. Between the end of the piston rod I23 and the slotted head I28 is placed a split ring I36, the halves of which are held together by the cap screws I3I. Surrounding the slotted head I28 and the split ring I36 is a collar I32 for additionally retaining the various portions and holding them together. The injector plunger I25 is provided with a flanged enlargement I33, with a T-shaped projection I34 fitting into the slot I 29. In order to make use .of this coupling device I26, the injector plunger I25 is provided with an index marker I35, which exactly registers with the outer end of the sleeve 82 when the at the outerfedge of the aperture 83.

If thedies I and II are now increased in size,

injector plunger I26 is in its retracted position the nuts I03 and I01 are loosened on the piston rods I02 and I06, and the feeding assembly slid back to the proper distance to accommodate the tip 13 ot the nozzle H to the increased size of die. The injector plunger I25 is now uncoupled from the piston rod I23 and readjusted so that the index marker I35 again comes exactly at the outer end oi the sleeve 82, the split ring I30 being removed by removing the cap screws I3I'. The split ring I30 is then replaced by a shorter split ring, and the assembly clamped together again in the manner shown in Figure 11. ing split rings I30 in various lengths, the apparatus can be adapted to dies oivarylng sizes.

When the split ring I30 is entirely removed and the coupling I26 reassembled, the apparatus is adjusted for the maximum permissible size of die, and its appearance is then as shown in Fig- ,ure 12. The cylinder bore I2I for the injector piston head I22 is closed by an end plate I36,

with a port I31 therein. The. opposite end of the cylinder bore I2I is provided with a port I38.

Mounted on the post 99 is a supporting plate 1 I39, upon which a pair of limit switches I40 and I H areadjustably mounted and adapted to be operated by engagement with the collar I32 (Figure 2). Similarly, the slide 56 carries a limit switch I42, adjustably mounted thereon and adapted to be engaged by a collar I43 on the piston rod I06. The limit switches I49 and MI control the action of the geared motor unit 95 for operating the feed screw 85. The limit switch I42, however, controls the energization of sole- 3 noids I44 connected to valve rods I45 (Figure 1),

valves I46 are connected by the lines I52 and I53,

to the ports I31 and I38 at the opposite ends of the injector cylinder bore I2I. The valves I46 are also provided with discharge lines I54, leading through the valves I55 to the auxiliary tank 22. From the pump discharge lines I41 the branch pressure lines I56 lead to the line I51 which runs, by way of the valve I56, to the port I59 (Figure 3) opening into the main cylinder chamber 38. In this manner the pressure from the pumps I48 and I49 serves to'assist the clamping action of the main plunger I1.

Pressure fluid is supplied to the main cylinder I8 by meansof the pump I60 having an intake line I6I from the surge tank I9, and an outlet line I62containing a valve I63 and leading to the clamp-operating valve I64. The latter is of a piston type, similar to the valves I46, but is manually or automatically operated to discharge pressure fluid from the line I62, either into the line I65 or I66. A third line I61 leads back tothe surge tank I9. The line I66, with its branches I68,- leads to the forward ends of the cylinder bores IIO, connecting up with the passages II3 and H thereof. The passages H2 and H4 are connected by the branch pipes I69.

to the line I running to a branch line I1I, leading from the platen-operated ,valve I12 to y supp y The line I65 of the clamp-operating valve I64 runs therefrom to the platen-operated valve I12, and the additional line I16 runs from the line I66 to a valve-operating piston within the valve I12, whereby the latter is shifted when pressure fluid reaches it along the line I16. This action is additional to the action of the platen arm I14 upon the control rod I13. From the line I65 the branch line I11 runs to the central bore 29 of the booster plunger 28, whereasa branch line I18 runs from the bored passageway 3| therein to the line I16. Also connected to the latter, as at 45, is the surge valve 20.

Operation 7 In the operation of the machine, the pumps I48, I49 and I60 are started in operation and generate pressure fluid which is transmitted to the various lines connected to these pumps. The operator now shifts the clamp-operating valve I64 so that a connection is made between the line I62 and the line I65. Pressure fluid now. passes from the pump I60, through the valve I63 and line I62, the line I65 and the line I11 to the central bore 29 of the booster plunger 26, where it acts upon the end of the internal bore 26 within the main plunger i1. This causes the main plunger I1 to advance rapidly, causing the platen I5 and the upper the half II carried thereby, to rapidly approach the lower die half I0.

As the main plunger I1 advances in this manner, the surge valve 20 automatically opens so that fluid is drawn through the passages 49 and 50, into the upper chamber 38 of the main a junction with the line I51 near the port I59. 7

The valve I12 is a two-way valve, operated by the control rod I13 when the platen arm I14 1 cylinder I8 (Figures 1 and 3), from the surge tank I9. When the die halves II and II] have approached almost to the point of engagement, the platen arm I14 engages the collar I15 on the control rod I13 and shifts the two-way pistontype valve I12. When this valve shifts, pressure fluid is admitted from the pump I60, through the lines I62 and I65 to the line I1I leading to the upper chamber 38 ofthe main cylinder I8. This causes the pressure of the pump I60 to be exerted upon the upper end of the main plunger I1, bringing the die halves II and I0 into engagement with a clamping pressure of high degree. At the same time that the clamp* ing of the die halves II and I0 occurs, pressure passes from the line I1I, along the lines I10 and I69, to the cylinder bores IIO, causing the pistons I08 and I09 thereof to move inwardly, thereby shifting the feeding and injector units 53 into engagement with the die halves II and I0. When this occurs the injector nozzle tips 13 engage the sockets or inlets I4 in the die halves I0 and II, and the apparatus is in readiness for injecting plastic material into the cavities I2 of the die half II.

As the piston rod I06 pushesthe feeding and injector unit 53 ,into engagement with the die halves II and I0, its collar I43 engages and closes the limit switch I42 (Figure 2), thereby energizing the solenoids I44 and causing them to shift the injection control valves I46. When this occurs pressure fluid passes from the pumps I48 and I49, through the lines I41, the valves I46 and the lines I52, to the ports I31 in the injector cylinder bores I2I, causing the pistons I22 to move the injector plungers I25 inward and execute an injection stroke of each unit. The plastic material, which has been heated in the injector chamber 61, is thus pushed past the deflector 69, and through the orifice 12 into the.

limit switches I48-and I come into play at this point to operate the geared motor unit 65 so as to cause the feed screws 85 to rotate and feed more of the particlesof molding material from the feed chamber 84 into the injector chamber 61. These limit switches I48 and MI are connected to an electrical circuit, formlng no part of the present invention, but disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Ernst and Lawyer, Ser.'No. 138,904, filed April 26, 1937, now Patent No. 2,191,882, issue Feb. 27, 1940.

By the operation of these limit switches I48 and MI the ieed screw 85 is caused to feed a slight excess of material into the injector chamber 61 so that an adequate amount of material is always present in the chamber. As a surplus amount of material collects therein the injector plunger I25 is incapable of executing a complete injection stroke, hence, the collar I32 is temporarily incapable of engaging and actuating the limit switch MI. The electrical circuit then remains deenergized, and the feed screw 85 remains inactive and skips a cycle while the injector plunger I25 executes another injection stroke and clears the injector chamber 61 of the surplus material.

Meanwhile, the pumps I48 and I49 supply pressure fluid through the lines I56 and I51 to the upper chamber 38 of the main cylinder I8, thereby assisting the pump I68 to maintain a firm clamping pressure upon the main plunger I1 and to overcome such slight leakage as may occur. After the material has been allowed to cool in the die halves II and I8 for a sufficient length of time, the injector operating valves I46 are shifted. by the operator so that pressure fluid passes from the pumps I48 and I49, through the lines I41 and IE3, to the ports I38, thereby returning the injector operating piston I22 to its starting position. Fluid from the opposite sides of the pistons I22 returns through the ports I31 and lines I 52 and I54, through the valve I46 to the auxiliary tank 22. The clamp-operating valve I64 is also shifted, thereby permitting pressure fluid to pass from the pump I68 and its pressure line I62, through the lines I66, I16 and I18, to the passageway 3I leading to the pull-back side of the piston head 30 on the booster plunger 28. This causes the main plunger I1 to rise and return to its starting position, separating the die halves I8 and II.

At the same time the pressure fluid continues along the line I16 to the connection 45, and operates the surge valve 28 so that it opens and permits the fluid from the upper chamber 38 of the main cylinder I8 to pass through the passages 58 and 49, back into the surge tank I8 (Figure 3). The pressure fluid continues through the line I16 and acts against the operating piston within the piston valve I12, thereby holding the valve I12 forcibly open, although the platen arm I 14 has released the collar I15 on the control rod I13. During the same operation, pressure fluid passes from the line I66, through the branch lines I68, into the passages H3 and H at the ends of the cylinder bores I I8 and I I I, causing the pistons I88 and I89 to shift the feeding and injector units 53 out of engagement with the die half I8. The feeding and injector units 53 thereby return to their starting positions, and the fluid displaced by the pistons I88 and I88 passes through the passages H2 and H4, through the lines I68, I18 and Ill, through the two-way valve I12, which is now being held open forcibly by fluid reaching its operating piston through the line I16. The

fluid from the valve I12 continues along the line I65, through the valve I64 and the line I81, to the surge tank IS. The machine is now in readiness for executing another clamping and injection cycle.

In the course-of time it may become necessary to take up the wear and looseness existing between the slides 56 and the guide plate 51. When this occurs the gibs I18 and I88 (Figures 7 and 8) may be moved by means of the screws I8I and I82, thereby taking up any amount of play. If a double unit is employed, as in Figure 8, the principle is the same, except that the slides 56 are engaged by the members I83 (Figure 8) secured to the guide plate 51 by the screws I84. The members I83 interlock in the manner shown in Figure 9.

It will be understood that we desire to comprehend within this invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination in a plastic injection molding machine, a plurality of die elements, a hydraulic motor for moving one of said dies into engagement with the other die, an injector, a second hydraulic motor for moving said injector into engagement with at least one of said dies, 9. main liquid tank disposed above said dies, an auxiliary liquid tank disposed remote from said main tank and below said main tank, a hydraulic connection between said main tank and said auxiliary tank, and a plurality of pumps, one of said pumps being arranged to withdraw liquid from the main tank and supply it to said die motor,

means to permit rapid gravity flow of liquid from said main tank to said die motor without effecting the liquid level in said auxiliary tank, and another of said pumps being arranged to withdraw liquid from the undisturbed liquid supply in said auxiliary tank and supply it to said injector motor.

2. In combination in a plastic injection molding machine, a plurality of dies, a hydraulic motor for'moving one of said dies into engagement with the other die, an injector feeding unit, a hydraulic motor for moving said unit into engagement with said dies, an injector cylinder and piston carried by said unit, a hydraulic motor for causing operation of said injection piston to eject material from said cylinder into said dies, a main liquid tank disposed above said dies, an auxiliary liquid tank disposed remote from said main tank and below said main tank, a hydraulic connection between said tanks, and a plurality of pumps, one of said pumps being arranged to withdraw liquid from said main tank and supply it to said die motor, means to permit rapid gravity flow of liquid from said main tank to said die motor without effecting the liquid level in said auxiliary tank, and means to shift a portion of said pump supply to said feeding unit motor to advance said feeding unit into engagement with said dies, and another of said pumps being arranged to withdraw liquid from the undisturbed liquid supply in said auxiliary tank and supply it to said injector motor.

3. In combination in a plastic injection molding machine, a pair of die elements having a mold cavity, means for closing said dies, a plurality of injection units each unit comprising a cylinder and a nozzle in coaxial alignment and arranged in planar alignment with the parting plane of said l 2,898,804 l dies, the nozzles thereof engaging the parting line of the dies, said units being distributed around said dies in a manner that material ejected therefrom will flow from the outside toward the center of the mold cavity.

4. In combination in a plastic injection molding machine, a pair of die elements having a mold cavity, means for closing said dies, a plurality of injection units each unit comprising a cyiinderand a nozzle in coaxial alignment and arranged in planar alignment with the parting plane of said dies, the nomles thereof engaging the parting line of the dies, said units being positioned adjacent opposite sides of said dies so that material ejected therefrom will flow from the outside toward the center of the mold cavity.

5. In combination in a plastic injection molding machine, a pair of die elements having a mold cavity, means for closing said die, a plurality of injection units each unit comprising a cylinder 20 and a nozzle in coaxial alignment and arranged in planar alignment with'the parting plane of said dies, the nozzles thereof engaging the parting line of the dies, said units being distributed around said dies in a manner that material concommitantly ejected therefrom will flow from the outside toward the center of the mold cavity.

6. In combination in a plastic injection moiding machine, a pair of die elements having a mold cavity, means for closing said dies, a plurality of independently operable injection feeding units each unit including a cylinder and a nozzle in coaxial alignment and arranged in planar alignment with the parting plane of said dies, the nozzles thereof engaging the parting line of the dies, said units being distributed around said dies in a manner that material ejected therefrom will flow from the outside toward the center of the mold cavity.

JOHAN A. MULLER. WARREN R. TUCKER. 

